The president called the bluff of the LOC of the 2009 FIFA U-17 world cup last week and saved Nigeria N26.5B; yep thats Billion.
One week ago the FIFA U-17 Nigeria LOC like the “chop and clean mouth” KOJA, presented a bill of N35.5b to host the FIFA U-17 world cup in Nigeria in 2009. Hmm the president then told them, he did not have the cash with him right now, but that they should come back "tomorrow". And magically the figure dropped by 228% to N9billion. The president has now oked the event. See an advantage of going slow.
So the obvious question is what did they slash? Did they slash new stadia or did they slash their commission? To put this in perspective, this amount to host a junior world cup Nigeria has won three times is more than the budgeted amount for either health or education in the 2009 budget. So in essence, we are putting football over educating our kids and keeping the populace health. Tells you where our priorities are. I had expressed the fear ago that this tournament was going to be another ATM scheme; thankfully Yar Adua has changed his “PIN” number.
But why stop there, let Yar Adua call the bluff of the legislators who have withheld ascent on the 2008, yes 2008 supplementary budget of N683 Billion. Can someone explain to me how we are discussing 2008 budget in November 2008?
This country is now a big ATM. This week we heard the Minster of Agriculture and Water resources tell us that N24 bllion was spent on boreholes between 2004 and 2006, the problem however is that the boreholes are untraceable ie they don’t exist.
Today we have just heard that the 2009 budget is for N2.68 trillion, that’s trillion, the same ministry of Agriculture and Water resources is allocated N80.9B, health and education combined get N58 Billion. If you add Universal Basis Education, the combined figure is N98B.
Another interesting allocation is the Niger Development Development Commission with N34.9B while the Federal Capital territory gets N30.6 billion. So an agency managing the entire oil producing areas (seven states) gets N34B, and one state or territory gets N30B. hmmm one hope then that the excess sum that will be spent on the development of the Niger Delta will be allocated in the mint new Niger Delta Ministry.
The oil price benchmark is fixed at $45. In my view this leaves very narrow wriggle room for saving of any excess crude, ie if oil drops to $50 (which is a possibility) we can only save $15 per barrel to put in any excess crude account. I digress, Point is this is a time for belt tightening; we cannot be involved in disappearing boreholes or Peugeot 407 car scandals in 2009.
The govt must show the way in honesty, prudence and when that fails Yaradua should simply seize the jokers ATM cards.
It’s our problem, we can fix it
Kalu Aja
Ps how did the minister of works escape the cabinet shake up? Has anyone seen our roads?
Friday, March 27, 2009
Some times you hear a news story and you say Kai! It’s impossible, this could not have happened, in this Nigeria? its impossible, show me proof.
Let me tell you one of these stories in the late 70’s when Joseph Wayas ran the Parliament a motion was introduced that Big stout (Guinness or Odeku) should be served with pepper soup during House proceedings. This motion was actually voted on and defeated soundly, but that a senator actually introduced such a Bill tells you how low Nigeria fell during these times, do you believe this story? I assure you it’s true.
Ok let me tell you another incredible story, in 2006 the President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo wanted to have a Nigerian version of the “Great Leap Forward” so he decided to launch a satellite into space with Chinese help (sounds like the Emperors new clothes already). well this project in spite of the hue and cry was eventually launched (so they told us) at a cost of N40 billion Naira, yes Billion. ($333 million). However the satellite first lost power (they first told us) then was parked in space (they told us after) and eventually it has fallen and is lost irreparably (so they are now telling us).
Now the interesting part, the MD of the NigerComm SAT1, Professor Ahmed Rufai has now asked the House to approve N59 Billion ($500m) concessionary loan from the China EXIM bank, yes Billion and yes China, to launch another satellite, do you believe this story? I assure you its true.
Where do I start from?
1. How are we sure a satellite was actually launched by the Chinese? All we saw was a rocket blasting off from China, did due process take a picture of the satellite in space?.
2. What were the specs given to the Chinese, did we order a dud, or did the Chinese build a dud? Was the nation sold a dud?
3. Why China? Can anyone here tell me any thing that China invented after paper and fireworks? Could it be that we were looking for a backing for a third term from a Security Council member when the West rejected the Third term project? But I digress
4. What did we actually gain form the satellite? Were internet call cheaper? Was any income realized? Why could it not find the missing aircraft that crashed near Obudu? why cant it spy on militants positions in the creeks?
5. If the Chinese failed, why give them another chance? If they could not deliver a working N40billion satellite, should we trust them with a N59 billion satellite? How came they are giving us a “loan” to build another satellite, will we pay interest on this second satellite, or is someone looking to donate to a secretariat project?
6. What about insurance? was this satellite insured? If yes why is the MD Rufai asking for money from the House to build a new one? was there no warranty or guaranty?
I can go on and on but really is it just me? do I think someone here is just plain stupid? Is the House going to actually vote on this?
I bet you in 50 years, you will tell your grandson about this incident, he wont believe you, he will say “haba granddaddy be serious now, how can you say they gave someone N40billion, and he “lost” it and then came back for N59 billion!”
When you hear these word maybe you will realize that it’s actually “us” that were stupid.
Fee dee fee, Power
Kalu
Let me tell you one of these stories in the late 70’s when Joseph Wayas ran the Parliament a motion was introduced that Big stout (Guinness or Odeku) should be served with pepper soup during House proceedings. This motion was actually voted on and defeated soundly, but that a senator actually introduced such a Bill tells you how low Nigeria fell during these times, do you believe this story? I assure you it’s true.
Ok let me tell you another incredible story, in 2006 the President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo wanted to have a Nigerian version of the “Great Leap Forward” so he decided to launch a satellite into space with Chinese help (sounds like the Emperors new clothes already). well this project in spite of the hue and cry was eventually launched (so they told us) at a cost of N40 billion Naira, yes Billion. ($333 million). However the satellite first lost power (they first told us) then was parked in space (they told us after) and eventually it has fallen and is lost irreparably (so they are now telling us).
Now the interesting part, the MD of the NigerComm SAT1, Professor Ahmed Rufai has now asked the House to approve N59 Billion ($500m) concessionary loan from the China EXIM bank, yes Billion and yes China, to launch another satellite, do you believe this story? I assure you its true.
Where do I start from?
1. How are we sure a satellite was actually launched by the Chinese? All we saw was a rocket blasting off from China, did due process take a picture of the satellite in space?.
2. What were the specs given to the Chinese, did we order a dud, or did the Chinese build a dud? Was the nation sold a dud?
3. Why China? Can anyone here tell me any thing that China invented after paper and fireworks? Could it be that we were looking for a backing for a third term from a Security Council member when the West rejected the Third term project? But I digress
4. What did we actually gain form the satellite? Were internet call cheaper? Was any income realized? Why could it not find the missing aircraft that crashed near Obudu? why cant it spy on militants positions in the creeks?
5. If the Chinese failed, why give them another chance? If they could not deliver a working N40billion satellite, should we trust them with a N59 billion satellite? How came they are giving us a “loan” to build another satellite, will we pay interest on this second satellite, or is someone looking to donate to a secretariat project?
6. What about insurance? was this satellite insured? If yes why is the MD Rufai asking for money from the House to build a new one? was there no warranty or guaranty?
I can go on and on but really is it just me? do I think someone here is just plain stupid? Is the House going to actually vote on this?
I bet you in 50 years, you will tell your grandson about this incident, he wont believe you, he will say “haba granddaddy be serious now, how can you say they gave someone N40billion, and he “lost” it and then came back for N59 billion!”
When you hear these word maybe you will realize that it’s actually “us” that were stupid.
Fee dee fee, Power
Kalu
The news in Nigeria is that junior police officers are preparing to go on strike, yep they will down tools or guns or stop collecting “N20” to express their many grievances.
This instantly posses many questions, can they do this? Legally no, they are an essential service so they cannot go on strike, just like the Army, PHCH (NEPA is on strike) etc, but they can and have actually gone on strike before. I recall in 2003 I believe, the junior officers also then went on a strike. The IG and the senior police officers threaten fire and brimstone on any junior officer found “on strike” but that day by 5pm it was eerily quite in Lagos, there was no traffic jam, everybody ran home to be safe. You see no body wanted to take any chances. At that time I discovered that a “N20” police is better than a “N10” armed robber.
Ok what are the police grievances? The usual, lack of promotions, delayed promotions, very bad working conditions etc, do they have a point? Are u kidding? Been to a police barracks lately? The Nigerian Police is a sorry institution, it’s sorry because of no fault of their making, they have been made sorry.
Again I ask have you been a police barracks. There has to be a realty show called “how long you can eat and not throw up in a Nigerian police barracks”. It is awful. Open sewers, blackened walls, no running water, etc, and these are the guys we send out to guard mansions in Asokoro and lkoyi? Whose fault? Was money approved for the repair of these barracks? yes money is always approved, in the 2009 budget, Police has the second highest allocation after Education; about N183 billion plus. So how much will it cost to renovate a barrack? The worst thing is that it’s a privilege to even have a space in these places, God forbid you get yourself killed by armed robbers or worse run over by a mad Honda driving woman, your family will be thrown out of there in a flash. And we wonder why they disappear when the armed robbers show up?
FACT we hear of officers nabbed by taskforce X for collecting “N20” but the former IG was caught red-handed with billions, what happened to him? Is the case still in court? What was the pleas bargain details? Did he refund anything to the state?
FACT Police trainees in the training schools are made to buy their own shoes and equipment, theses are trainees ooh, and there is a federal budget for training, so are you surprised they ask for “N20”. what are they trained on? can they use a computer? can they shoot straight, can they perform emergency first aid? can they defend themselves without a gun?
FACT the average junior police earns about N35,000.00 a month. Before they got this, their average salary a month was about N10,000.00. Then a police man did not actually know his salary, he was not paid through a bank, nor did he get a pay slip, there is usually a “pay parade” and he lines up and is given his salary in cash. If he was recruited in Sokoto, his pay point will be in Sokoto forever, if he is transferred to Lagos on assignment or posting his salary will still be made in Sokoto. So the poor guy in Lagos has to make do with “N20”. Things are now getting better; they now have a pay slip because of pension reform. And we wonder why they are so corrupt.
FACT the IG has reportedly requested for N2.9trillion to revamp the police force, peanuts! We also read the president, vice president, governors, ministers and their aides earn N1.3 trillion a year! So since 1999 we have spend N10trilion (or more) on salaries and perks for the less than 5,000 people, there are 366,000 police officers, do the maths.
FACT The Police have no fingerprint, Forensics DNA lab in the whole of Nigeria, to solve cases they torture. Wonder why Bola Ige (serving Minister of Justice) Alfred Rewane, Harry Marshall, Funsho Williams’s cases have not been solved.
Guys I can go on and on, point is we are getting what we are allowing. Would it be a stretch to employ only graduates as police officers, to pay a minimum of N100,000.00 as monthly salary, with full life insurance, mortgage and car loans, also add free child education in the event of death. How much would that cost us as a nation? Well less than N10 trillion over 10 years. Can you drive your new Toyota Prado if there was no policeman, can you open a shop in Oshodi if there was no police man? There cannot be security unless every street has a cop simply walking and watching.
usually the police motto is “protect & Serve” in Nigeria the motto is “to Protect (all and only the banks, oil companies, politicians, and big men and women) and Serve (only Aso rock). All the mobile police men are now used as personal bodyguards, so who will investigate petty crime in Mushin? who will control traffic in Kano City? Who will protect referee during football games in Aba?
Please guys lets show our cops some respect, it’s not their fault they look ragged and demand “N20” from you at gunpoint. Will we have found it funny if a lady bobby or NYPD officer was run over by a mad lady in a Honda? Take a Nigerian police man out of Nigeria and they excel, the UN always looks for our cops. Even in Nigeria have you seen cops in Calaber? They are smart looking, the even wear gloves! Because Duke looked after them. if there is a police post near your house , this weekend buy juice, or even water and gala and give them, they will appreciate it.
The politicians keep the police men in penury so they can use them to settle scores, abi will you tell a police man who earns N150,000.00 a month, has a wife and 3 kids in university, with a neat apartment in Ikeja to carry a stuffed ballot box during elections? He will simply arrest you. The democracy we crave starts from having someone to enforce it, the Police the Judiciary workers, God bless them, they are doing their best.
Its our problem, we can solve it.
Kalu Aja
This instantly posses many questions, can they do this? Legally no, they are an essential service so they cannot go on strike, just like the Army, PHCH (NEPA is on strike) etc, but they can and have actually gone on strike before. I recall in 2003 I believe, the junior officers also then went on a strike. The IG and the senior police officers threaten fire and brimstone on any junior officer found “on strike” but that day by 5pm it was eerily quite in Lagos, there was no traffic jam, everybody ran home to be safe. You see no body wanted to take any chances. At that time I discovered that a “N20” police is better than a “N10” armed robber.
Ok what are the police grievances? The usual, lack of promotions, delayed promotions, very bad working conditions etc, do they have a point? Are u kidding? Been to a police barracks lately? The Nigerian Police is a sorry institution, it’s sorry because of no fault of their making, they have been made sorry.
Again I ask have you been a police barracks. There has to be a realty show called “how long you can eat and not throw up in a Nigerian police barracks”. It is awful. Open sewers, blackened walls, no running water, etc, and these are the guys we send out to guard mansions in Asokoro and lkoyi? Whose fault? Was money approved for the repair of these barracks? yes money is always approved, in the 2009 budget, Police has the second highest allocation after Education; about N183 billion plus. So how much will it cost to renovate a barrack? The worst thing is that it’s a privilege to even have a space in these places, God forbid you get yourself killed by armed robbers or worse run over by a mad Honda driving woman, your family will be thrown out of there in a flash. And we wonder why they disappear when the armed robbers show up?
FACT we hear of officers nabbed by taskforce X for collecting “N20” but the former IG was caught red-handed with billions, what happened to him? Is the case still in court? What was the pleas bargain details? Did he refund anything to the state?
FACT Police trainees in the training schools are made to buy their own shoes and equipment, theses are trainees ooh, and there is a federal budget for training, so are you surprised they ask for “N20”. what are they trained on? can they use a computer? can they shoot straight, can they perform emergency first aid? can they defend themselves without a gun?
FACT the average junior police earns about N35,000.00 a month. Before they got this, their average salary a month was about N10,000.00. Then a police man did not actually know his salary, he was not paid through a bank, nor did he get a pay slip, there is usually a “pay parade” and he lines up and is given his salary in cash. If he was recruited in Sokoto, his pay point will be in Sokoto forever, if he is transferred to Lagos on assignment or posting his salary will still be made in Sokoto. So the poor guy in Lagos has to make do with “N20”. Things are now getting better; they now have a pay slip because of pension reform. And we wonder why they are so corrupt.
FACT the IG has reportedly requested for N2.9trillion to revamp the police force, peanuts! We also read the president, vice president, governors, ministers and their aides earn N1.3 trillion a year! So since 1999 we have spend N10trilion (or more) on salaries and perks for the less than 5,000 people, there are 366,000 police officers, do the maths.
FACT The Police have no fingerprint, Forensics DNA lab in the whole of Nigeria, to solve cases they torture. Wonder why Bola Ige (serving Minister of Justice) Alfred Rewane, Harry Marshall, Funsho Williams’s cases have not been solved.
Guys I can go on and on, point is we are getting what we are allowing. Would it be a stretch to employ only graduates as police officers, to pay a minimum of N100,000.00 as monthly salary, with full life insurance, mortgage and car loans, also add free child education in the event of death. How much would that cost us as a nation? Well less than N10 trillion over 10 years. Can you drive your new Toyota Prado if there was no policeman, can you open a shop in Oshodi if there was no police man? There cannot be security unless every street has a cop simply walking and watching.
usually the police motto is “protect & Serve” in Nigeria the motto is “to Protect (all and only the banks, oil companies, politicians, and big men and women) and Serve (only Aso rock). All the mobile police men are now used as personal bodyguards, so who will investigate petty crime in Mushin? who will control traffic in Kano City? Who will protect referee during football games in Aba?
Please guys lets show our cops some respect, it’s not their fault they look ragged and demand “N20” from you at gunpoint. Will we have found it funny if a lady bobby or NYPD officer was run over by a mad lady in a Honda? Take a Nigerian police man out of Nigeria and they excel, the UN always looks for our cops. Even in Nigeria have you seen cops in Calaber? They are smart looking, the even wear gloves! Because Duke looked after them. if there is a police post near your house , this weekend buy juice, or even water and gala and give them, they will appreciate it.
The politicians keep the police men in penury so they can use them to settle scores, abi will you tell a police man who earns N150,000.00 a month, has a wife and 3 kids in university, with a neat apartment in Ikeja to carry a stuffed ballot box during elections? He will simply arrest you. The democracy we crave starts from having someone to enforce it, the Police the Judiciary workers, God bless them, they are doing their best.
Its our problem, we can solve it.
Kalu Aja
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